asystole then DC

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Had a funny thing happen the other day. A young woman came in for some vague complaints of weakness. It was busy and some nurse not from our department was starting an IV and really digging around. I went in to talk with the patient and the monitor was right in front of my face. I noticed her rhythm slow, then she had 13 seconds of asystole! Her eyes rolled back as I put the back of the bed down and I shook her pretty hard and yelled at her. She gave a big jerk then woke up and said "what happened"? Her boyfriend then tells us, "oh yeah she always passes out when they start IVs". The funniest part was that the MD was chapped he couldn't find precanned discharge instructions for asystole. God I love this job...

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

"Release body to funeral home?" Seriously, I am glad I haven't had a patient do that when starting an IV -

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.

Yeah in my hospital she'd be admitted to the ICU, or should I say admitted to the emergency department as a hold

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

I can't believe she was discharged.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Had a funny thing happen the other day. A young woman came in for some vague complaints of weakness. It was busy and some nurse not from our department was starting an IV and really digging around. I went in to talk with the patient and the monitor was right in front of my face. I noticed her rhythm slow, then she had 13 seconds of asystole! Her eyes rolled back as I put the back of the bed down and I shook her pretty hard and yelled at her. She gave a big jerk then woke up and said "what happened"? Her boyfriend then tells us, "oh yeah she always passes out when they start IVs". The funniest part was that the MD was chapped he couldn't find precanned discharge instructions for asystole. God I love this job...

A vagal reaction to be sure......but an extreme one. I would have thought she deserved an overnight tele and a tilt table in the am.

Do the Doc really discharge ger?????:eek:

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I would have told the doc he could do the discharge, because I wasn't signing it! LOL. I guess you could argue that a 13-second pause with complexes on either side is just severe bradycardia, but geez.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I would've started a second line in her to see if the episode was reproducible. In the interest of science of course.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
In the interest of science of course.

But of course! :D

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Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.

Wonder what other fun activities cause her to pause like that.

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I have vagal responses when I have IV's started on myself. Comes on quick and goes away quick with no effects. I feel an aura coming on and then out. I have even told nurses that I was about to go out. I used to do it upon any injection/stick. Now it only happens with IV's that they have to dig on.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Wow, thats worse than the pt I had last week. 30-something pt. kicking and screaming in my left ear while I was inserting a 20# in her forearm. My other patients in the hallway swore I was cutting her open.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

Scary, even scarier that she went home. In my hospital that would have been ICU with extensive testing. What did the doc say was causing her fatigue?

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